Ham radio Field Day

Usually when a major natural disaster strikes, the American Red Cross says new forms of electronic communication often fail.
That's why the organization still relies on a piece of old technology to save lives.
It's called ham radio.
Guests checked out the equipment at the Cape Fear Red Cross in Wilmington.
This is the seventy-sixth annual Field Day Exercise -- where amateur radio operators are trained to use the equipment.
Exercises are going on all over the country.
The equipment can run off batteries or a generator.
Ham's are capable of relaying messages from the government and public agencies in the event of a hurricane.
Vicki Labelle, Cape Fear Red Cross, said, "…and while we hope we don't have to use this equipment, it is certainly a comfort to know that we can communicate with those that we need to communicate with during times of disaster."
Tomorrow, the public can view the equipment and learn more about it between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

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